Applications accepted for student employment program

Employers can now apply for the Summer Temporary Employment Program (STEP).

STEP will help approximately 3,000 students improve their job prospects by gaining valuable on-the-job experience and skills.

“We are so pleased to bring STEP back this summer. We want to support our job creators during these challenging times while providing students with opportunities to take those first steps up the ladder to meaningful careers.”

Lori Sigurdson, Minister of Jobs, Skills, Training and Labour

The program will support employers that hire students by providing a wage subsidy of $7 per hour for work opportunities between four and 16 weeks. Students must be in high school or post-secondary and returning to school full-time in the fall.

Eligible employers include small businesses, non-profit organizations, public libraries, municipalities, First Nations, Métis Settlements, publicly-funded post-secondary institutions, and school boards.

Funding will be allocated by sector and across the province to ensure a fair distribution of STEP positions and to benefit a broad range of students and employers. Positions must be full-time at a minimum of 30 hours a week.

Ten million dollars is allocated for the program in 2016-17.

Employers interested in hiring a student for a summer position are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Applications must be submitted before the February 29, 2016 deadline. All applications received by this deadline will be considered.